Thuringia · Newcomer guide
Settling in Jena
Jena is a science and optics city — Zeiss and Schott are here — with a large student population, so its offices are used to newcomers; it runs on Thuringia's state portals. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Jena
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Jena
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Jena
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Jena
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Jena
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Jena
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Jena
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Jena
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Jena
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Jena
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Jena
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Jena
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Jena
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Jena
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Jena
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Jena
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Jena
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Jena
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Jena
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Jena
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Jena
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Pilot — free browser extension
Doing your move to Jena online? Let TiG Pilot read the form with you
Open any German authority form and TiG Pilot tells you what each field means in plain English, warns you about the ones that cost money, and fills in the details you saved once — stored only in your browser. Free, and it never submits anything for you.
- 🏛️Detects German authority forms and explains every field
- ⚠️Flags the traps — church tax, Hauptwohnung, declarations
- ✍️Fills your saved details — stored in your browser only
- 🧩Works on job application forms too — one profile fills both